CFHS code HS5
Parish Holy Sepulchre
Monument Chest tomb
Monument
This chest tomb located on the southern border of the parish of Holy Sepulchre, next to the boundary stone on the central path, has been hidden under ivy for many years and was not identified by CFHS. After some general cut back along the central path in December 2023 and a lot of rain in February 2024. It was possible to reveal a small part of the monument. Very little of the inscription can be read but the burial register was used to verify which members of the family are buried here. It had not been identified when this area was mapped by us in 2018.
Inscription
south face
William Ekin
… line illegible…
west face
……line obscured……….
……line illegible……….
Son of the above
Born 23 July 18..
And Julia
Born .. July 1841
Died .. April 1913
Relationships – Parents, son, daughter in law
William Ekin (1805 – 16.4.1861)
William was born in Huntingdon c 1805 possibly to Thomas and Fanny Ekin. We do not know when he came to Cambridge but in 1826 he took over The Sun Inn and coach stop in Trinity St. (In 1825 Mrs Mills AG263 put an announcement in the Cambridge Chronicle acknowledging the support the people of Cambridge had given her and hoping they would continue their patronage with William Ekin when he took over the establishment in January 1826.).
He married Mary Nix on March 7th 1826, at Abbots Ripton, and they were still living in Trinity St when their son Thomas was baptised in May 1828 at All Saint’s Church, Cambridge. William was listed as an innkeeper on the baptism record. In 1834 he took over the the brewery in what became known as Ekin’s Yard, off Magdalen St.. The 1841 census shows him with his wife Mary in Bridge Street, as well as his his brother? Samuel and wife Maria and 2 family servants. William is described as a common brewer but by the time he died at 69 Bridge St he was also a malster & wine and spirit merchant. He also owned several properties. He was on the town council and Mayor from 1855 to 1856.
The Sun Inn was was demolished c1859 to make way for Whewell’s Court.
Mary Ekin née Nix ( c1802 – 1898)
Mary was born in Huntingdonshire c1802
It is thought she gave birth to at least 3 children Thomas (1826) Arthur (or Alfred) (1831 – 1833) and Augustus Goodman (1836 – 1892)
Mary died at 3 Mortimer Road and was buried here on August 4th 1898 aged 96.
Augustus Goodman Ekin (23/7/1835 – 5/3/1892)
Augustus was the son of William & Mary. He was baptised on January 6th 1836. He took over the brewery in Ekin’s Yard and the Hoop Inn
He married Julia Anderson on 7th March 1866 at St Cuthbert’s church in Yorkshire.
In the 1871 census he and Julia were living at 30 Thompson’s Lane.
Augustus was Chair of the Cambridge Conservative party, a JP and Chair of the Cambridge Brewer’s Society.
He died at Heathfield, Park Side, Cambridge, after a prolonged illness and was buried here on March 10th 1892 aged 56.
Heathfield was a substantial dwelling house which was demolished when the police station and Fire station were built. A picture of the houses can be found here. https://capturingcambridge.org/centre/parkside/parkside-police-station/
Julia Ekin née Anderson (1841 – 1913)
Julia was born in South Shields to Joseph & ? Anderson.
[If you have any information about this family , please contact us at Friendsofmillroadcemetery@gmail.com]
by Mary Naylor
Sources – Using Live links will take you to a new page – return to this site via back button
CFHS transcripts of parish and census records
Family Search
Cambridge pub histories – Stephen Harris
British Newspaper Archive
Cambridge Mayors https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/media/j2fotixm/cambridge-mayors.pdf
Information about The Sun Inn https://capturingcambridge.org/centre/trinity-street/whewells-court-masters-court/
Sun Inn / Whewell’s Court https://capturingcambridge.org/centre/trinity-street/whewells-court-masters-court/
Information about the Hoop Inn https://capturingcambridge.org/centre/park-street/adc-theatre/